The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood

Dr. Ellie Sullivan has just completed her residency at a large urban hospital. While jogging in a park nearby, she witnesses the shooting of an FBI agent in pursuit of wanted criminals, a couple identified as the Landrys. The only person to see the shooter’s face, Ellie is suddenly at the center of a criminal investigation.

Agent Max Daniels takes over the Landry case. A no-nonsense lawman, he’s definitely not the ideal man that Ellie has always imagined, yet she’s attracted to him in a way she can’t explain.

Ellie heads home to Winston Falls, South Carolina, to attend her sister’s wedding. Shortly after she arrives, though, she receives a surprise visitor: Max Daniels. The Landrys have been captured, and she’ll be called to testify. But they’ve been captured before, and each time the witnesses are scared into silence—or disappear before they can take the stand. Max vows to be Ellie’s shadow until the trial, and it isn’t long before sparks fly. . .

She was only going jogging to relieve some job stress; she never planned on witnessing an attempted murder!

Ms. Garwood’s romantic suspense stories have always been top notch, but I hadn’t read anything new by her for some time. I was happy to get a chance to check out her book. She didn’t disappoint me.

This author makes everything about her books “real”. Her characters feel emotions that I find easy to understand and relate to. After all, Ellie is a busy doctor and Max is in the FBI and neither one of them wants to get involved at this point in their careers. I can understand that. And I can also understand why that wonderful reasoning doesn’t work.

The killers are determined to get rid of witnesses and hire assassins to accomplish that. As Ellie and Max fight them off and try to keep Ellie safe, they grow close and begin depending on each other. This is an action packed story with danger all around, with an informant in the FBI office, and no way to know who you can trust. You hope all will end well, but there’s no guarantee when you are involved with dangerous folks on the other side of the law whose witnesses disappear before the trial can held.

With all the tension in the story from the chase, the author relieves the atmosphere by adding Ellie’s family problems and creating a heated relationship between the two who didn’t want commitment. It’s fast paced, tantalizing story that keeps your eyes glued to the page. This is well-put-together thriller with a side of romance. Get your own copy and “taste” it.

RATING EXPLANATION:

1 Star— At this time, we at LASR do not post these reviews. If the book was boring, badly edited, poorly written, had little or no plot, stilted dialogue, and/or unsympathetic characters, we will decline the review.

2 Stars— Not wonderful, but tolerable. There may be some minor editing glitches but not enough to stop you reading. Not a wall-banger, but nothing you'd re-read. This is a book you would borrow from the library - not buy - and never check out again.

3 Stars— Good. Mostly enjoyable. You made it through and didn't consider it a waste of time or money. The story was strong enough or the conflict tight enough, so even when the book faltered, it was able to draw you back in and keep you. There's a chance you'll recommend it to a friend, but it wouldn't go on your keeper shelf.

4 Stars— Very Good. You're glad you were the one who got to review the book. You would probably buy it and would definitely recommend it to your friends. You liked the characters and the plot. The writing style was good and the editing clean.

5 Stars— Great! You would definitely buy this book. You would definitely recommend it to your friends. You really loved the characters and the plot and would consider looking for this authors back list or making her an autobuy. The writing and editing were superb.

LASR Best Book - For a book or story that is truly exceptional. You think about it when you're not reading it. You wonder what happens to the characters when you finish. You would absolutely buy everything else this author had to offer. The highest praise - and reserved for only a few.

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